From Algorithms To Emotions: BeWell Miami Brings Youth Mental Health Into Focus

The summit is designed to examine the complicated relationship between technology and the emotional well being of today’s young people. Rather than treating the digital world simply as a source of concern, the event promises to explore the ways technology affects relationships, identity, communication and mental health—and how adults and young people can navigate that landscape together.

The event will take place on Sunday, November 1st, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Temple Israel, 137 Northeast 19th Street, Miami, Florida 33132. Parents, teens, Jewish communal professionals, mental health professionals and anyone interested in the well being of youth are invited to attend.

At the heart of the afternoon will be a keynote conversation featuring two speakers whose work offers complementary perspectives on growing up in an increasingly digital society: Dr. Aliza Pressman and Larissa (Larz) May.

Dr. Pressman is a Developmental Psychologist and the Author of The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans, a bestselling book that translates developmental science into practical guidance for parents. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast - Raising Good Humans. Her work focuses on helping parents better understand children’s development and build stronger, healthier relationships with them.

Her presence at the summit offers an important reminder that technology conversations are ultimately about people. Behind questions about screen time, Social Media and digital habits are children and teenagers learning how to regulate emotions, establish relationships, develop confidence and make decisions. Understanding those developmental needs can help parents respond to technology challenges with greater perspective rather than fear.

Joining Dr. Pressman is Larissa “Larz” May, a digital wellness entrepreneur and the Founder of #HalfTheStory, a NonProfit dedicated to improving the next generation’s relationship with technology. May is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Ginko, a doctor-backed tool designed to help families navigate the complexities of the digital world.

May’s work addresses a question that has become increasingly relevant to families: How can young people use technology without allowing technology to dictate their emotional lives? Digital platforms can connect people and provide opportunities for creativity and community, but they can also introduce pressures around comparison, attention, belonging and constant connectivity. Helping teenagers develop healthier digital habits requires more than simply telling them to put their phones down. It requires understanding why technology is so compelling and giving young people practical tools to engage with it more intentionally.

That combination of developmental psychology and digital wellness makes the summit particularly relevant to parents and teenagers alike. The title, From Algorithms to Emotions, captures the central challenge: technology may be powered by algorithms, but the people using it are driven by very human emotions.

The summit also recognizes that youth mental health is not solely a family issue. Schools, synagogues, youth organizations, communal agencies and mental health professionals all play roles in creating environments where young people can feel supported. Bringing these groups together can help foster a more coordinated approach to identifying challenges, encouraging healthy conversations and strengthening resources for youth and their families.

In addition to the keynote conversation, the afternoon will include breakout sessions, a resource fair and a designated teen track**, giving attendees opportunities to explore the subject from different perspectives. The resource fair is intended to connect participants with information and organizations focused on youth well being, while the teen track gives young people a space within the larger summit specifically tailored to their experiences.

The event also offers continuing education units (CEUs) and service hours for participating teens, adding practical value for both professional and student attendees.

The summit is being presented by a coalition of Miami Jewish community organizations, including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, BeWell Miami, Jewish Community Services of South Florida and CAJE, reflecting a broader communal commitment to supporting the mental health and well being of young people.

Most importantly, the summit creates an opportunity for conversation. For parents, it can be a chance to learn how developmental science and digital wellness strategies can inform everyday family life. For teenagers, it offers an opportunity to be heard and to consider their own relationship with technology. For professionals, it provides a forum for learning, networking and sharing resources.

As the digital environment continues to evolve, young people will face questions that previous generations never encountered in quite the same way. How much of their lives should happen online? How can they distinguish connection from comparison? What happens when an algorithm understands their interests better than they understand their own habits? And how can adults guide them without dismissing the genuine benefits technology can provide?

Those questions have no single, easy answer. But they are precisely the kinds of questions that deserve to be explored collectively.

The Third Annual BeWell Miami Youth Mental Health Summit offers an opportunity to begin that exploration with experts, families, teens and community members in the same room. Registration is scheduled to open this month, with additional registration information to be announced.

For a community invested in the future of its young people, the message is clear: understanding youth mental health today means understanding both the emotions young people carry—and the digital world in which they increasingly live.

Follow: @bewellmiami for more information.